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In Thailand discover a country where ancient and modern collide to create the glorious chaos of Bangkok and the cultural heritage of Chiang Mai. In Laos you’ll find a land that holds to the simple traditions that have slipped away elsewhere and where the languid pace of life is eternally contagious. Explore, relax and absorb the distinct atmosphere of these two fascinating countries that sit either side of the massive Mekong River. Food, history, culture, stunning landscapes and endlessly friendly locals await on this journey through two gems of South East Asia.

Why you'll love this trip

Many travellers just use Laos as a place to journey through on the way to somewhere else. This trip spends time in four different destinations in Laos so you'll have plenty of time to experience the country.

You'll also experience a good taste of Thailand with stops in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chiang Khong.

This is a no-fuss, no-hurry holiday. Laos is one of the most relaxed countries we know, and the pace of this trip is the same, with plenty of free time to choose your own options in each destination and make the holiday your own.

Take up some of the many chances on offer to do good while you travel - from visiting the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre to eating at social enterprise restaurants like Friends International and Makphet.

A slow boat down the Mekong River is one of South East Asia's most classic and timeless journeys. We spend 2 days making our way lazily from Thailand to Laos via this vital waterway.

Is this trip right for you?

As part of our Basix range, this trip has minimal included activities and meals. This means more free time to make your own discoveries and do the things of most interest to you. Travellers who do some research in advance of travel as well as take the chance to chat to their leader about options available will get the most out of their time in each place we visit.

Without many inclusions, you will need to bring extra spending money to take part in activities and for lunches and dinners. It's hard to give a guide on how much you will need, as everyone is different. But even if you are on a tight budget, there are are plenty of free or inexpensive activities, such as temple visits, tuk-tuk transport, river and countryside walks and local markets to explore.

The unhurried pace of Laos can be frustrating to travellers used to more urgency. It can also mean things don't always go to plan or aren't in a rush to get done! Buses can break down, journeys can take longer than expected, and guesthouse rooms are sometimes not ready on arrival. The key to enjoying Lao's laid-back atmosphere is plenty of patience and going with the flow.

It can get colder than you might expect in northern Laos in January, with an average temperature of 16° C, so you'll need some warm clothes if travelling at that time.

The roads between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang offer breathtaking views, but the catch is that there are a lot of twists and turns. Past travellers recommend those those prone to motion sickness to bring some medication with them from home.

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Itinerary

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. Bangkok has much to offer those with time to explore. You can take a riverboat to Chinatown to sample some world-class street food, visit the Grand Palace, wander down the bustling mecca of Khao San Road or indulge in a Thai massage.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Bangkok - Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB1790

Bangkok - Temple & River of Kings Urban Adventure - THB2465

Bangkok - Bangkok by Bike Urban Adventure - THB1904

Meals Included

Start the morning by jumping on a public ferry to Wat Kalayanamit and enjoy an included walking tour around the fascinating Thonburi area of Bangkok. See the mixture of cultures with Buddhist temples and Catholic Churches as you stroll around the Portuguese influenced Thonburi area. Often a spot away from the tourist trail you will experience untouched local villages living by the waterways and visit quaint local markets that have plenty of interesting snacks waiting for you to try. Finish the walking tour at Amulet market and be lured into a shopping frenzy. Enjoy free time in the afternoon for optional activities, you may want to relax with a Thai massage or visit the mysterious Jim Thompsons House. Board your overnight train this evening to Chiang Mai (approximately 13 hours). You will travel by 2nd class and your carriage is air-conditioned. Before you go, perhaps take a longtail boat trip down the Chao Phraya River to explore the famous 'khlongs' (canals) of Bangkok. Life along these canals seems a world away from the busy streets of the capital.

Accommodation

Overnight train (1 night)

Included Activities

Bangkok - Thonburi tour

Optional Activities

Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250

Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB150

Meals Included

Wake up on the train and glimpse the northern scenery as you arrive in Chiang Mai, then transfer to your hotel. Get out and explore this 'Rose of the North', which boasts spectacular temples, delicious food, an enormous night market, a picturesque river-front and excellent shopping. Hiring a bike to get around town is a great activity, or venturing to the Doi Suthep temple 15 km out of town. There is so much to do in Chiang Mai and you have 2 full free days to do as much or little as you like.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Chiang Mai - Bicycle tour - THB950

Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep temple - THB50

Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep transport (minivan for group) - THB1100

Meals Included

Adventure seekers, ask your leader about white-water rafting or fly like a bird via the Flight of the Gibbon zipline. Today is a free day and there is many optional activities your leader can help you organise. You could participate in a Thai cooking course or see those amazing Asian Elephants in a visit to the Elephant Nature Park.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Chiang Mai - Thai cooking course - THB800

Chiang Mai - Urban Adventures - Mind & Soul - THB2317

Chiang Mai - Whitewater rafting - THB1500

Chiang Mai - Flight of the Gibbon zipline - THB3999

Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park - THB2500

Meals Included

Take a private minivan to Chiang Khong (approximately 5 hours). Explore this quiet town that sits on the Thai side of the Thai-Lao border. Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Luang are both well worth a visit while you are here. Perhaps rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside and the banks of the Mekong. Your accommodation tonight is a basic guesthouse.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Meals Included

This morning you will complete border formalities at Huay Xai before boarding a private boat with your group to begin your two-day journey down the Mekong River (6–7 hours today). While the boat is basic, the journey is relaxed, a lovely way to experience the slow pace of village life and gorgeous scenery along the river. Dock at the small trading port of Pak Beng in the late afternoon and spend the night in a basic guesthouse.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Special Information

Prior to the boat's departure, ask your leader for help purchasing food and drinks for the journey if you need some. It can also be quite cold between November and February, so make sure you have some warm gear packed. Due to dam construction upstream, water levels are not as reliable as in previous years. When the river is at its lowest (February to April), groups may need to take a bus to Pak Beng instead of the boat. This is due to safety reasons and is advised by our local operators.

Board the boat again and cruise downriver at a leisurely pace to Luang Prabang (6–7 hours). Arriving late afternoon, you'll have time to hit the highly recommended night market food stalls, a great place to mingle with the locals and enjoy a meal with fellow travellers. With temples and French colonial villas lining the Mekong under blazing orange skies, you can see why this city has a reputation for exotic beauty.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities

Luang Prabang - Pak Ou Caves

Meals Included

Join your guide for a walk around the local area, learning more about Lao culture at the temple of Wat Phra Mahathat. Today and tomorrow are then yours to spend as you please. Take the time to explore the local market by day, where the textiles made by local women will amaze. You can also make the steep climb up Mount Phousi, the spiritual and geographical heart of the city and a prime location to see the sunset over the Mekong.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities

Luang Prabang - Walking tour

Optional Activities

Luang Prabang - National Museum - USD4

Luang Prabang - Wat Xieng Thong - USD2

Luang Prabang - Royal Theatre - USD20

Meals Included

Your leader can help you organise many optional activities today. Kuang Si Falls, a spectacular spot to swim, is well worth a visit. Also at the gate entrance to the waterfalls you will have the chance to stop by the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre where you can see the wonderful work this center is doing to rescue bears from poachers and provide them with a home. If you want to learn more about the local cuisine you can enjoy a cooking demonstration in the heart of town.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Optional Activities

Luang Prabang - Kuang Si Waterfalls - USD2

Luang Prabang - Cooking demonstration - USD30

Meals Included

Take a private mini bus through dusty villages and winding mountain roads to Vang Vieng (approximately 7 hours). The mountain scenery en route is as impressive as that of your destination. Situated on the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng is surrounded by towering limestone karsts. The standard of accommodation in Vang Vieng is basic but comfortable.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Vang Vieng is known as an adventure town, thanks to its unique and varied surrounding country. Its many local caves are easily accessible and make for great day trips or half-day trips. Notably, Tham Chang, with its beautiful cavern fed by a natural spring, is an interesting swimming hole. Those looking to relax or perhaps learn more about local niche industry can visit the organic mulberry farm just outside town and enjoy a meal there (guided tours of the farm are available).

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Vang Vieng - Bicycle hire - USD2

Meals Included

Take a beautiful local bus ride through roadside villages to Vientiane (approximately 4 hours). Enjoy the slow pace of what is possibly Asia's most laid-back capital city. On a guided walk you will visit the key Buddhist sites Wat Si Saket and Haw Phra Kaew, and continue on to Patuxai (Victory Gate) for unsurpassed views over the city. You will also visit COPE, an organisation dedicated to assisting those who have been injured by the multitude of unexploded ordnance across the country.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities

Vientiane - COPE visit

Vientiane - Walking tour

Meals Included

Today is a free day. Be sure to sample some of the top-quality cuisine on offer here, from French to Laotian and everything in between. Follow tracks along the river to find villages full of friendly children, dogs and chickens. Or perhaps hone your newfound Lao language skills at the morning market, which is in fact open all day and is full of local treasures. A further option is a tuk-tuk journey to Buddha Park.

Important notes

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip, excluding Day 2 (overnight train) and Day 6 Pak Beng.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.